LAST GREAT DREAMERS’ POWERPOP TOP 10!

Powerpop rockers LAST GREAT DREAMERS put a seal on their most successful year yet with a series of December dates.

They follow on from the release of their acclaimed fourth album 13th Floor Renegades and steady touring which has seen them play up and down the UK, as well as their first ever shows in Norway and Spain. They’ve also begun making plans for their first ever US shows, having had their tracks rotated on legendary powerpop DJ Rodney Bingenheimer’s radio show in LA.

Following their headline shows in December, they’re back out on the road in the new year as special guests to Chicago glamsters Enuff Z’Nuff.

To celebrate, Vive Le Rock asked guitarist Slyder to come up with his Top 10 powerpop nuggets…

Hanoi Rocks – ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’
The band probably responsible for Last Great Dreamers’ existence, Marc [Valentine, guitar/vocals] and I both being huge fans; nothing like them before and nothing close to them since, you can hear the likes of The Clash and Mott in there but they had a real unique sound and look. Hard to pick a favourite song, love them all but I think on the Two Steps From The Move album they really came of age, obviously on the verge of great things until tragedy struck. The production on this record, the harmonies etc, just moved up a notch. This song is a great example of that and they look so damn cool in this video too.

Redd Kross – ‘Stay Away From Downtown’
Redd Kross are one of my favourite bands. First I heard of them was Third Eye, introduced to me by Marc, and then the subsequent albums, saw them once in London on the Show World tour in the 90s and again more recently touring Researching The Blues. When I heard ‘Stay Away From Downtown’ I was instantly hooked by the riff and the chorus. I played this song to death and still do, it was instrumental in getting me back into playing again after a 10-year break. I’d just got back in touch with Marc again when this came out, it excited me and made me want to get back on stage again!

Blondie – ‘I’m Gonna Love You Too’
From Parallel Lines, hard to pick any individual track again but this is a great example of their reinvented 1950s sound in the late 70s, a bit Buddly Hollyesque. Fun and vibrant, always showcasing Clem’s brilliant drumming and Debbie is just fantastically talented and beautiful, love her scream into the rip roaring guitar solo!

Squeeze – ‘Is That Love?’
I think Squeeze are similar to The Kinks in their ‘storytelling’ style of lyric writing. This is a perfect example of the classic 2½ minute pop song. Straight into a short and sweet riff and verse 1, Glen Tilbrook’s soulful voice with a country edge, sweet harmonies and perfect little rockabilly/country guitar solo.

Silversun – ‘Golden Skin’
Came across this in the late 90s on the soundtrack to British romcom movie Shooting Fish. Great catchy opening riff that’s a theme throughout, layered vocal harmonies and simple melodic octave guitar solo, perfect pop song!

The Kinks – ‘Till The End Of The Day’
The Kinks were the ultimate storytellers, quintessentially English, trashy guitar sound & excellent harmonies. This song we earmarked to cover whilst on tour, we jammed it in a soundcheck or two but it never came to anything, maybe one day. The lyrics seemed to fit with the whole vibe of touring & the happy bubble you are in…“you and me we’re free, we do as we please. From the morning till the end of the day”.

The Ramones – ‘I Wanna Be Sedated’
Another completely unique band with so many songs, it’s so very hard to pick a favourite. Great production on this record, very tight squelchy guitars, repetitive catchy singalong lyrics, impossible not to love this, The Ramones at their best.

The Buzzcocks – ‘Ever Fallen In Love’
Fabulous pop song, simple but meaningful lyrics, great jangly guitars, perfect chorus and harmonies from a band that churned out tons of catchy, camp 3-minute pop punk classics. Saw them most recently at Exeter a few years back and never heard a guitar as loud as Steve Diggle’s. He played and performed like he’d just been given his guitar back after having had it confiscated for 10 years!

The Hives – ‘Hate To Say I Told You So’
While I was browsing through YouTube this song started playing and I’d earlier had the CD in my hands when thinking of tracks to include for this, so decided to put it in. Loads of energy, attitude & aggression, cool look and sound.

Boomtown Rats – ‘Rat Trap’
A favourite band as a kid, again very unique in their sound. Great songs, look and attitude. I do remember hearing that this song was like an homage or sequel to The Kinks’ ‘Waterloo Sunset’, not sure if there’s any truth in that though.